Håndskriftsamleren Arni Magnusson 1774 - 1776

This 1774-1776 engraving by Danish artist J.F. Clemens depicts the Icelandic scholar Arni Magnusson. The print shows Magnusson's bust, surrounded by objects symbolic of his scholarship and knowledge: a quill pen, a scroll, a flag, a serpent and a stone with the inscription "ARNA". The image's use of symbolism in a landscape setting, coupled with the inscription, clearly labels this work as an allegory intended to celebrate the scholar's life and contributions to knowledge. This print, now held in the SMK – Statens Museum for Kunst, is a fine example of the genre of historical portraiture prevalent during the 18th century.